Coco Gauff and Frances Tiafoe explained why they are hesitant to try Emma Raducanu’s coaching style at the BNP Paribas Open. Both players reflected on Raducanu’s comment about spending long periods in her professional career without a proper coach.
Their responses came during separate post-match interviews at Indian Wells after winning their second-round matches on Friday. Gauff beat Kamilla Rakhimova in straight sets, and Tiafoe defeated fellow American Jenson Brooksby 6-4, 6-2 to move on to the third round of the maiden Masters 1000 event of the Sunshine Swing.
“I mean, I have done it a few times just with homey, just with friends. I mean, I got a little bit of a drill sergeant right now in Mark. I’m going to say you go through different stages. There was a time when I was her age, and I didn’t want it. But sometimes you have to look in the mirror and be, like, what do you actually really need?” Tiafoe said.
“Look, she’s so good, and she’s so talented, obviously she’s a worker, she’s a Grand Slam champion. I just think she just needs to find someone who is going to really be there for her and be there with her ups and downs and her trying to get back to the top of the game where she deserves to be,” he added.
Gauff had a similar approach to the question of trying self-coaching for some time in her professional career.
“I don’t think it would go well (smiling). There are tournaments where I may not listen to my coach that much at all, so maybe it is self-coaching. No, I think, I mean, for me personally, I feel like it’s always good to have some direction. I feel like the team I have now doesn’t overcoach. They let me, you know, think it through,” Gauff said.
“Like today, I didn’t look at my box for advice once. That’s how I usually prefer it. But, you know, I think it’s nice to have a coach with you, but every player is different. I know some players can play well without one, and some prefer, maybe, someone like a hitting partner/coach. But I feel like with all the changes I’m making in my game, I think I would get pretty lost without one,” she added.
Coco Gauff, Tiafoe, and Raducanu Aim to Make a Decent Run at Indian Wells
Gauff, Tiafoe, and Raducanu all played their round 2 matches on Friday, and all three sealed a straight-sets victory. While Gauff is still waiting to know who her next round’s opponent is going to be, countryman Tiafoe and Brit No. 1 Raducanu have learned their fate for round 3 at Indian Wells.
Tiafoe is set to face Flavio Cobolli in the next round on Sunday, while Raducanu will be going up against Amanda Anisimova in round 3 of the BNP Paribas Open on Saturday. All the top names in men’s and women’s are in the fray for the title, making Indian Wells one of the most prized tournaments on the ATP and WTA circuits.
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